Temptation

Chapter 11
Chapter 11

“Temptation” Part 11

 

By Oni and Piper

 

 

The motley group of adventurers gets underway.  By keeping the wagon lightly loaded they ensure the buck is not overtaxed with the unaccustomed burden.  While the witchling's illusions are not supposed to make a person truly lighter nor work in sunlight, her recent spells seem to have managed both tricks, on her and little Janice.  This allows little Reiko to feel special to be able to ride in the wagon with playmates, while the others have to walk. 

 

As Reiko rides she watches Amara out of the corner of her eye as the blonde girl is forced to hike in her delicate slippers.  The diminished Paladin begins walking with practiced ease, though it becomes obvious that her body is no longer used to such exertion.

 

About an hour into the trip Reiko gives her friend a whistle.  "Wanna ride?" the little girl asks innocently.

 

"Maybe in a bit," Amara admits, trudging onward.  The girl is obviously breathing hard but still valiantly pushing herself.

 

"Maybe you should, you know, take a rest," Jym suggests politely to his young mistress.

"You are slowing us down," Alyssa translates bluntly after a moment.

 

"I kin make you weigh less," Reiko offers.  Amara frowns in annoyance and doesn't reply to anybody, pushing forward in determined silence.

 

A few minutes later they stop the wagon and everybody adjusts their boots and shoes.  An exhausted Amara sits on the end of the wagon to rest and work some pebbles out of the folds of her slippers.  Reiko simply places a dolly on the skinny blonde's lap and grins.

 

Amara gives the witchling a scornful look.  "What?" she snips, her high voice making her sound bratty.

 

"It is fun back here.  And it's a temporary spell." the Kirasani girl offers.

 

"This?" Amara asks, holding up the doll.

 

Reiko nods.  "Hug the dolly to your face and you'll be like me."

 

Amara purses her lips in thought.  "How MUCH like you?" she asks suspiciously, making Reiko giggle.

 

"Same age." the girl clarifies.  "An' in how you feel."

 

"For how long?" Amara asks shrewdly.

 

"Till you want to turn back." Reiko says.

 

Still looking tired Amara glances around at Jym and the others who already look prepared to get underway again.  "I don't want to hold us up," the fair girl admits with a sigh.  After a few seconds of hesitation she reluctantly hugs the doll.

 

Amara feels a tingle engulf her body and the world begins to become larger.  Much to her surprise so do her dress and shoes.  Her feet shrink right out of her slippers, causing them to slide off and drop to the ground below.  She keeps hugging the doll, afraid of getting dizzy, while waiting for the spell to stop.

 

"Let go," Reiko finally tells her with another giggle.  "It won’t stop till you stop huggin’ it."

 

With a short squeal Amara drops the doll as if it stung her, and pushes it off her dress; her now huge dress, which drops off her skinny shoulders.  "What?" she exclaims shrilly.  The little girl has to hold her hands over her flat chest to keep her old dress from completely dropping to her lap.  "What about my dress?"

 

Little Reiko actually looks a bit bigger than Amara now, placing the blonde just under age seven.  "You don't need it.  That's for a teen.  I got you one for your new size."  The witchling adds then begins to dig through her pack.

 

“What?" Amara squeaks, "When?"  She peeks over Reiko's shoulder, having to rise up on her knees.

 

"When we first found the shop," Reiko admits.  "You'll like it.  It's yellow."

 

Amara huddles back into her large clothing trying to keep the gaping top closed.  "I don't know..." she hesitates cutely as Killi looks back at her with a grin.  The wagon starts up again without any offer to let Amara down.

 

Thrilled she planned ahead Reiko eagerly pulls out the dress, along with its white frills and attached apron.  "Aw, but it's so cute."

 

"It's childish," Amara complains childishly.  With two soft thumps Amara's shoes land next to her along with a smirk from Alyssa.

 

"Perfect, because you are too." Reiko adds, unfolding the adorable garment.  She then crawls forward and pulls the oversized dress fully down to Amara's waist, baring her from her round tummy up.

 

Noticing Jym watching Amara blushes terribly, slapping her skinny arms over her chest.  The fair skinned child turns an impressive shade of red.

 

Reiko continues pulling the dress under and away from the little blonde’s bottom.  "C'mon, lift up."

 

Amara starts slapping at the witchling with a hand.  "Stop!" she protests, still covering her chest with the other arm.  "Shoo!  Go away!"

 

"You wanna stay naked in yure big dress?" Reiko asks.

 

Jym breaks in.  "Amara, go ahead and get dressed please."

 

"Only if you promise not to watch," the shy blonde tells Jym as she blushes.

 

Her squire looks away.  "Done," Jym says.

 

Amara allows Reiko to pull the dress completely off and sits naked in the wagon for the moment, looking down at her pudgy undeveloped body in disbelief.  Flat chest, round tummy, skinny legs and bare innocence between those legs; It is a far cry from the tall muscular Paladin of the previous day.  Furthermore her pale, delicate skin bares no evidence of military training, or of exercise beyond that of running around playing.

 

Thirty month old Emmy smiles at her, making Amara feel even more embarrassed and causing her to bend her legs to cover her lower half. 

 

Taking her time Reiko rolls the yellow dress up in her hands then says, "Let's get this on you."  Amara eagerly pulls the dress on, in spite of its flowery designs.  Admiring the smaller blonde Reiko grins then offers her the small matching slippers.

 

Amara grimaces.  "No point.  I get a better grip in bare feet."

 

They ride through the day, Amara becoming distracted with the other kids and falling into a pattern of childish play.  Eventually she finds two dollies she really likes and starts pretending they are princesses. 

 

"So, what is the plan?" Jym asks in the afternoon.  "We really should start talking about it."

 

The rest of the team, all much smaller than him now, look around at each other.

 

"First, we shouldn't let her know we're all there." Reiko starts.

 

"Maybe if we kill her, the spells will end?" Killi suggests.

 

Jym grimaces.  "Or you all get stuck like this.  Amara, what do you think?  This is a god thing." he asks.

 

Amara blushes as she drops her dolls, having not paid attention.  "Um..." the blonde stalls.

 

Reiko whispers into Amara’s ear and catches her up.  The little Paladin nods in thought then suggests, "Okay.  We ask her to take off the blessings then kill her if she doesn't?"

 

"She is a priestess, would that work?" Jym asks.

 

"Umm..." Amara thinks again, scratching at her head.  "I'm having trouble remembering much about the gods but..." she sighs.  "We're in over our heads.  We should get to a powerful priest for help."

 

"We did go to a priest." Jym reminds her.

 

"A powerful one," Amara repeats.  "Not some backwoods healer.  He couldn't handle the curse and it took him."  Wisps of her light blonde hair frame her young face in small curls.

 

"Then whom?  Where?" Jym asks.

 

"Any big city to the south," Amara comments scratching her cheek.

 

Jym sighs.  "How far and how long?"

 

Amara leans back and sniffles, feeling overwhelmed at the weight of her realization that they are truly on their own.  "I don't know," she croaks.  "Probly too long."

 

"Alight then back to the first question.  What to do?" Jym asks.

 

"I do have a lotta power right now." Reiko adds in.

 

"Can you break the curses on the others?" Jym asks.

 

The witchling shakes her head.  "I doubt it.  The magic didn't even want me reversing my own illusion on Alyssa."

 

"Then how can you help?" Jym continues.

 

"Well duh!  I can certainly make the priestess younger.  Then if it's possible for her to age herself back we can find out." she says.  "Before we just kill her."

 

"We hit her with everything we got," Amara says slowly, "and hope it gets us somewhere.  If not, at least the village will be free.  She has been using them for a long time."

 

Jym nods.  "Yeah, that seems obvious now doesn't it?"

 

"We need to sneak into town as well." Reiko says.

 

Amara sighs.  "We are reduced to that, aren't we?"

 

The witchling nods.  "Yes, reduced.  Appropriate word." she grins slyly.  "But, when the world hands you limnets you make limnet juice." she says back.  "Being small is something we can use, since we have to."

 

"It will help us blend in, I guess," Amara admits.  She shivers, and Jym puts his arms around her smaller form.

 

"Unless she can detect us." Reiko says casually while munching on fruit.  "But if she can do that, we probably can't beat her."  She shrugs.  "Though still worth a shot."

 

"The temple isn't in the middle of town," Amara pipes up.  She seems more energetic with Jym so close to her.  "We could approach from that side and not go through town?"

 

"I like that better." Jym says. 

 

Reiko nods with a thought then adds, "We could also let the others into town as a distraction.  Or hold them back, something to think about.  But we certainly should be in town as little as possible."  She ponders further as she stares at Jym's affectionate contact with Amara.  "Unless Jym thinks his girlfriend has something to add.  The one in town of course." she smirks.  Alyssa looks up at the comment.

 

Amara grunts in annoyance and doesn't seem to notice the other girl’s reaction.  "Considering she didn't warn us in the first place," the small Paladin says bitterly, "I don't see how contacting HER will help us."

 

"She might know something important." Reiko says, "And was just afraid to say anything before.  Just like everybody else in the town.  But, she might possibly be close enough to us to reveal something everyone else was afraid to."

 

Amara shakes her head in irritation, her blonde curls bouncing off her face.  "If she knew a weakness, she wouldn't be where she is."

 

"Not every girl is like you," Jym tells her softly.  "She might have been too afraid, or didn't know what to do with the information."

 

Reiko nods.  "Exactly."

 

"You are giving her a lot of 'maybes'," Amara points out, sounding petulant.

 

"Maybes can save the world, or at least us." Reiko points out.  "Look, if the priestess can detect us then she will once we get near her anyway.  The inn is on the opposite side of town.  We can easily sneak in and ask at least."

 

"And what are you going to ask?" Amara asks acidly.  "Excuse me, but we know what's going on, now that we're cursed too.  Do you know how we can stop the priestess?"

 

"If she couldn't warn us about the curse, then she isn't going to be able to talk about the priestess' weaknesses, even if she knows," Amara declares.

 

"Oooookay." Reiko pipes at the blonde's clear anger.  "I think someone needs a timeout.  Anyway, we ask because she's been there longer and seen more things.  Some of which she may not understand and we might." 

 

“Agreed.  We find Dinni first.” Jym says.  Amara pouts a little but stays silent, seeing the decision is made.

 

Reiko finds her sexual hunger has been growing, though it is still muted by her childish shape.  It seems to ask of her, in the way one's body makes demands.  She hopes that a confrontation with the priestess will allow her to feed that hunger.

 

They continue on their way.  When they are near the town Amara says, "Make me big again, I want to walk for this."

 

Reiko nods and grins widely.  “Okay!”

 

"Have her change clothes first." Jym warns.

 

Reiko pouts and folds her arms over her chest.

 

Amara pulls the large dress over herself before taking the little dress off.  Once done with that she finds herself growing up again.

 

Reiko wonders if she should grow up too, then decides against it, opting instead for small size and suppression of her hunger.

 

When the tingling of Reiko’s spell stops Amara pushes her arms through the dress and looks down, seeing the garment is still rather loose and her chest rather flat.  "All the way!" she gripes as a warning to the witchling.

 

"Um, that is all the way." Reiko says softly, even apologetically.  Amara looks closer to ten than twelve.  “Not my spell, you musta gotten younger on the ride … maybe from playing with the dolls?”

 

The little Paladin hugs her adolescent body, looking miserable.  Feeling sorry for her friend Reiko crawls over and hugs the blonde around the shoulders.

 

A few moments of being soothed pass before Amara separates from the embrace with a silent thanks.  The girl pulls her slippers on, then hops off the wagon.  Despite the fact her dress is now almost long enough to catch under her feet she is determined to again walk on her own and stay away from childish temptations.

 

They continue on … And on … And on.

 

"Shouldn't we be there by now?" Jym finally asks.

 

"Should we?" Amara wonders back, looking puzzled and vague, as if coming out of a daydream.  Reiko and Killi seem similarly distracted.

 

Reiko frowns in confusion then grows back to adulthood and looks around.  "Yes, we should."  She begins to look for signs of magic.  Jym notes the sorceress is skinnier than she used to be, her figure not quite filling her outfit.  She only seems to be a little older than Jym now.

 

After some intensive investigation Reiko doesn't detect anything.  She frowns at that then feels the hunger within stronger than before.  "Damn." she mutters.  "I seriously need to get to town." she tells Jym, hoping he'll understand.

 

"We're lost?" Amara accuses, looking accusingly at Killi, who shrugs.  "It's almost dark," the blonde complains, "How are we going to find it?!"

 

"The dark is my domain." Reiko shrugs.  "And I hope we are lost since the alternative is far worse, deception without actual magic use."

 

The Kirasani tries to figure out where they are and eventually does so using the shadows which are beginning to gather.  "We passed it," Reiko says in a surprised voice, "Over an hour ago."

 

"We walked right by it?  But how?" Jym asks.

 

"Enchantment.  It's gotta be." Reiko explains.  "I felt like I was in a dream.  Anyone else?" she asks.

 

Amara blushes.  "Daydreaming."  The little Paladin takes Jym's hand.  "You're going to have to lead us now," she says softly.  "We may be under some sort of influence."

 

"Wait, if so then what about you Jym?  Were you in a daze too?" Reiko asks.

 

"No more than normal.  A traveling daze," he guesses.  "I don't know for sure."

 

The sorceress sighs.  "Sasha, Alyssa?  What of you two?"

 

They shake their heads.  "I don't think so." Sasha adds in.

 

"There was a fork in the road some ways back," Alyssa notes.

 

"Then we go back.  I'll stay adult and watch magically this time and I sincerely hope there is no enchantment hiding the town." Reiko declares.

 

An hour later they return to the fork, and pass it yet again.  This time however, since they are looking for it, Jym, John, Alyssa and Sasha notice the new path, but the others do not, continuing onward in what looks like a daze.

 

Jym grabs Reiko and tries to shake her from her haze while Alyssa follows suit with Amara.  Killi is still guiding the steer past the fork until Sasha jogs forward and catches him by the arm.

 

Amara and Reiko react with childish annoyance and actually whine at the treatment, the sorceress sounding rather humorous with her adult voice and body.  "Mama, I don't wanna get up." Reiko whines petulantly.

 

As Jym tries to wake the Kirasani he notices that she is in fact masturbating, and it seems she does not want to be disturbed so close to satisfaction.

 

Amara for her part can't stop giggling at her own imaginary fantasy and tries pushing Alyssa away.  Sasha literally has to lift Killi from the back of the buck.  Almost instantly Amara and Killi are taken with giggling fits as though they are being tickled and writhe in the hands of the women.

 

Jym manages to pull the witch’s hands away from her then gives Reiko a slap to the cheek.  "Snap out of it!" he says.

 

Reiko awakens to pain and she snarls at him in pure hatred.  Jym deserves her wrath, deserves to drink his fill from her breasts she finds herself thinking.  She reaches out and grabs Jym’s shoulders, already feeling her breasts swell with milk.  He looks surprised and she finds it delicious.  She then reaches a hand behind the back of his head and begins to pull the teen’s face to her chest. 

 

Before the witch can do anything more however another hand grabs her arm and spins her around.  She finds John growling into her face.  "What game are you playing witch?"

 

Reiko instinctively pulls her top down, showing her bare bosom and glistening nipples.  She then grabs the front of John’s tunic and pulls his face to her chest.  "Oooooo, you’re a fun one aren't you?" she purrs.  Her breasts swell larger yet again.

 

John gets a full whiff of the breast milk as Jym falls backwards onto his ass.  "Reiko, no!" the squire calls out.

 

The witch shakes her head and tries to stop herself, but the will to do so is weak.  She does wish however, with all her might, that John won't get younger.  "Jym … I .... Can’t stop." she says.  John stops fighting with Reiko and starts sucking on her breast, grabbing her nipple between his teeth and causing her to gasp. 

 

Noticing the struggle Sasha and Alyssa dump the children into the wagon and hurry over to help as Emmy and Hanna start screaming, scared of the violence taking place that they do not understand.

 

An arm wraps around Reiko's neck and attempts to pull her back.  She does not let go of John however.

 

After another moment Sasha and Alyssa grab onto John and manage to pull him away from the witch.  They fall to the ground in one direction while Jym and Reiko fall in the other.  Struggling and unable to pull free of Jym's grip Reiko bursts into tears of frustration and sorrow.  "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she begins to wail.  John gasps for breath while licking the milk from his lips.

 

Recovering quickly John tries to move toward Reiko for more and the girls desperately wrestle with him.  Reiko however simply blubbers for a minute or so, upset and terrified at her own lack of control.

 

Thankfully the girls are strong enough to keep John down and Reiko finally calms.  In a weak voice, with a strong sniffle, she says, "Jym, I'm ... I'm okay now." 

 

Reiko stares at John a moment, then down at herself.  The nipple he drank from is a lighter shade of pink and has softened, while the other remains erect she notes.  More strangely the first breast is now visibly smaller than the second.  "Okay, that's just weird." she comments.

 

She looks then stares at John once again.  "Um, why doesn't he look ... younger?"  Considering the boy is sixteen any changes should be pretty obvious.

 

"He didn't change?" Jym asks in surprise, looking over Reiko's shoulder.

 

"Um, no.  Doesn't look like it," Alyssa responds, equally confused.

 

"That was delicious," John breathes.

 

"I ... I wished he wouldn't get younger.  Perhaps I can control it?" Reiko suggests.

 

Little Amara laughs loudly at Reiko's words as if the sorceress told a joke, her high voice sounding mocking.  Then she sings, "Reiko wants contro-ol!  Reiko wants contro-ol!"  The 'grown-ups' are more concerned with other matters at the moment and ignore the girl however. 

 

"Maybe, but can you control yourself?" Jym asks Reiko, still not letting go of the woman.

 

"Yes, but I need to ... be milked." she explains with a blush.  "I'm getting younger again.  For real this time.  The hunger for sex was driving me nuts even under my disguise which is why I dropped it, but it seems John's actions have abated that, at least a little."  After a moment of thought Reiko blinks.  "Wait, why did you slap me again?" she asks, not recalling her dazed state.

 

With no supervision Killi and Amara have started to play at wrestling and Jym's answer is interrupted as a tearing sound emanates from the little blonde girl's large dress.

 

"I'm telling!" Amara yells, her voice sounding both sweet and upset.  The 'grown-ups' all look over. 

 

A large tear has opened up Amara's dress from the hem to the waist.  The little girl looks quite distressed about it and is thumping Killi with her palms.

 

Reiko interjects.  "Okay, let me go and I promise not to feed John for the moment." she pleads.  "But I really really need to soon.  Look, he won't get younger.  No curse.  Okay?  But this feeling is driving me nuts and I think it's why I'm getting younger."

 

There is hesitation however as the others seem overwhelmed and unable to decide what to do.  "Jym?" Reiko asks again softly.  "C'mon, Amara needs us."

 

Jym sighs, looking distraught.  To Sasha, he says, "Care to feed your youngest?"  Reiko looks at the woman almost pleadingly.

 

Sasha looks at them, then at John, checking the teen one more time.  "Oh, why not?" she asks, and collects her toddler sister Emmy.

 

Jym slowly lets Reiko go, then looks to the other boy.  "John, you should just get up and sit in the wagon for a bit.  Okay?"  Reiko gives the teen a nod to do so.

 

John wipes his mouth and then nods back, though his eyes are still locked to Reiko's bare chest.

 

Sasha returns with her sister.  At first Emmy whines and looks upset, not for fear but because she doesn't want to 'be a baby'.  As with John however, she settles down and enjoys Reiko's milk almost immediately, cradled in the arms of the very witch she'd once blackmailed, her small lips wrapped around Reiko's dark nipple.  Sasha watches over to make sure no changes occur of course but Reiko manages to nurse again without causing regression.  Confident that things are in hand with the sorceress Jym finally attends to his mistress.

 

"You ruined my dress!" Amara cries angrily as she sits on the ground, ironically getting mud all over the backside of the dress.  Killi has hopped out of her reach and is sticking his tongue out at her as he crouches on the edge of the wagon.

 

Jym places a hand gently on Amara's shoulder.  "Amara?  Are you okay?" 

 

The little girl sniffles with tears in her eyes and grips the tear in her dress, which gapes to reveal her bare legs underneath.  "He ruined it!" she wails.

 

Jym kneels and tries to soothe her with a hug.  "Well, you shouldn't have wrestled with him then.  Calm down sweetheart."  Amara hugs Jym back and starts crying louder, letting it all out into her squire's chest.

 

"Here, let me fix that," Alyssa offers gently, producing a pair of shears.  She cuts the dress short to the girl's knees.  The tear is just a split along the side by that point, looking almost part of the style.  The seamstress then tightens up the shoulders with needle and thread.  "There you are."

 

Amara sniffles and then smiles at Alyssa.  "I'm pretty again," the little Paladin says softly.

 

"Yes you are!" Alyssa assures.  Her rivalry with the blonde is forgotten in the girl's sweetness.

 

Jym can't help but smile at the little girl his mistress has become, though inside he is worried at her sudden mental descent.  "Killi, try to be careful next time." he tells the boy.

 

Alyssa whispers into Amara's ear.  "What were you giggling and daydreaming about?" she asks, trying to get the child's mind off her dress.

 

"Jymmy and me were playing in a field of flowers," Amara whispers back with a big smile.

 

"Sounds like fun." Alyssa smiles back.  She finds the girl simply cute now, and no threat to her and Jym.  As she continues to adjust the dress, she takes the opportunity to happily notice that the girl's breasts are nothing but swollen nipples now.  She gives the little girl's chest a tickle, and is surprised when even the swelling fades, causing Amara to look closer to age nine.

 

Sighing happily at the release of pressure and lessening of her hunger, Reiko hands little Emmy back to Sasha.  "Thank you." she says, pulling her top back on.  The sorceress thankfully finds herself feeling very relaxed.  Missing the milk Emmy almost immediately begins sucking on her thumb.

 

"Did Emmy wike her titty?" Sasha teases her older sister, tickling the toddler's tummy.

 

"Do you want to ride again?" Jym asks, indicating Amara's now too large slippers.  They are discarded on the ground, having come off in the wrestling.

 

Amara shakes her head.  "I want to walk with you." she says, then takes Jym's hand.  The little girl Paladin allows herself to be led by the hand of her own apprentice as Jym leads the wagon down the fork toward the town.

 

"So, the Inn first?" Jym checks.  "Should we split up?"

 

"I'm going with you," nine-year-old Amara states firmly.

 

Jym nods.  "Okay.  But maybe we should sneak in the back while Sasha and John check the kids in by the front."  They agree, also leaving the wagon outside of town.

 

The small town is quiet in the night as they make their way through it.  Sasha, being the only full adult, leads her little five-year-old mother by the hand with her toddler sister on her hip.  John leads both Janice and Jamie while Jym and Reiko take the lead of Amara and Killi respectively.  With practiced eyes Reiko looks over the Inn for a silent way in and notices that the kitchen has a back door.

 

Reiko nods to Jym.  "We can go in that way.  The others go through the front and select a room." she adds, referring to John, Sasha and their charges.  "This town definately has a spell on it to protect from the cursed getting back in so it's internal magical defenses should to be minimal." the sorceress explains

 

Jym with his original but diminished party mates enters through the kitchen and moves silently into the private quarters when Sasha rings the front desk.  The adventurers hear stirring in the rooms and a pair of sleepy, young voices talking to each other.

 

The girl, Dinni, comes out carrying a candle and wearing a robe that is too big for her with nothing on underneath.  She looks about the same as she did days ago Jym notes, appearing to be about fifteen.

 

Reiko and Jym can hear downstairs as John asks for a room.  They move down the hall, finding the room the girl came from.  Inside they see a boy sleeping in the large bed, the covers back to show that he is naked from the chest up.  He appears years younger than the girl, ten at the most.

 

Jym makes a motion with his hand telling Reiko to incapacitate the boy, then motions for Killi and Amara to say quiet.  Amara glares suspiciously at the boy.

 

Reiko nods, and then surrounds the boy's in shadow, cutting him off from sight and sound.

 

They can hear Dinni move upstairs as she politely sees the others to two rooms.  When she has them settled in and has retrieved for them a wash basin, she returns to her own room ... then stops in the doorway in surprise.

 

She finds Jym sitting calmly in a chair, little Killi and Amara standing on each side of him.  "We need to talk." the teen says softly. 

 

Reiko's hand wraps firmly around Dinni's arm and a thick black shadow forms over the girl's mouth.  "Just in case you think you should scream, which you shouldn't, we aren't here to harm you." Reiko assures.  She tugs, but does not pull the girl's arm, leading Dinni gently inside.  The girl looks afraid, but nods in understanding and allows herself to be led.

 

Reiko closes the door behind them and then sits Dinni on the bed.  "Your friend is fine, just cut off from all sound and sight.  He'll sleep like a baby." the witch promises.  With a wave of her hand the shadows vanish from Dinni's mouth.  "You seem surprised." Reiko adds sarcastically.  "Not many repeat customers?"

 

The girl takes a deep breath as if the shadow had filled her lungs.  "No," she admits eventually, smiling apologetically at Jym and gazing at the boy she once slept with.  "Not the underdog anymore," Dinni notices with a smile.  "Looks good on you."

 

"What's she talking about?" Amara asks, not understanding, or not patient enough to figure it out.

 

"What is going on with that priestess Dinni?  We need answers, and insight." Jym says calmly.  He ignores Amara's question and confusion as irrelevant to the task at hand, diminishing his little mistress' status further.

 

Dinni sighs.  "She just appeared one day.  The boy in the church is our real priest, or at least he was.  We've all been getting younger since ..." she seems to have trouble remembering.

 

"Are you working for her?" Amara demands, sounding more petulant than intimidating.  She walks up and glares at Dinni.  "Why didn't you warn us?"  Jym allows it.  It is a fair question, and he feels the little girl needs to burn off some steam.

 

Dinni sighs.  "There's nothing you could have done, and by the time I convinced you, it would be too late to do anything.  It would have been better if you'd just gone your way."

 

"That's not true!  Yure lying!" Amara yells, more out of frustration than anything.  Her small fists are balled at her sides.

 

"Amara.  Not so loud.  Sit and settle down." Jym scolds calmly. 

 

Little Amara bites her lip and falls silent, but remains where she is, glaring slightly up at the seated girl and seething.

 

"Some kind of warning would have been nice.  A note or something," Jym admits, letting Amara stand.  "But I understand your situation and your fears.  You do realize of course that if she isn't stopped, you may not stop getting younger yourselves."

 

The sweet girl looks at him with eyes devoid of hope.  "They tried to kill her.  It didn't work." she says softly, almost in a whisper.

 

"Tell us how they tried to kill her, and what happened.  To her and to the attackers.  As well as you can." Reiko jumps in, seeming very interested.  Amara stares at Dinni as if testing every word coming out of her mouth for truth.

 

"When they realized what was happening wasn't a blessing, the townsfolk tried to lynch her.  She just laughed as she dangled.  Then they piled kindling beneath her and tried to burn her.  She wouldn't burn.  The rope broke and she floated to the ground and said, "You've had your fun.  But now you will heel to me."  Dinni shudders.  "Someone stabbed her with a pitch fork, but she just glared at him, and he turned into a small child.  She didn't even bleed.  Then everybody's minds were reduced to frightened children.  Some tried to flee, but as they got to the edges of town, they started getting rapidly younger.  We were trapped.  She let us have our minds back, just so we could support ourselves.  For the most part, it has been painless, a few months lost here or there."

 

"Can't hang, can't stab, and can’t burn.  Check.  Did she react with pain at all?  Did she get younger herself?" Reiko asks analytically.

 

Dinni shakes her head.  "It was like she wasn't real."

 

Reiko smirks.  "Because maybe she isn't."  As a magic user and collector of magical facts and legends Reiko seems to be pondering the evidence. 

 

Amara however snorts at Dinni.  "Like you'd know real.  Just answer the questions."

 

"Amara.  Be nice." Jym says softly.

 

Dinni nods in the little girl's direction and asks Jym, "Your mistress?"

 

"That's right," Amara answers for him.  "Once and future, anyway."

 

"And what of the present?" Dinni can't help but give a small smile.

 

"They voted me in charge, because I'm not cursed." Jym explains.

 

"Oh," Dinni nods with an impressed smile.  She blinks then, trying to keep from crying.  "That will change if you don't leave."

 

"And if I do leave my friends will dwindle until what becomes of them?" he asks, knowing the answer.  "The other you let in, the apparent children are affected as well.  I can either try to stop this, or I can run away.  And Paladin squires don't run away." Jym states as a matter of fact.

 

"This is why we need a plan that will work before we go in." Reiko states.

 

"If you settle down and become part of the town, it will go slower for all of you and for the rest of us too," Dinni suggests hopefully.

 

Reiko winces.  "That's the same as telling those two to surrender." she replies, indicating Jym and Amara.  "Anyway, before we get our butts handed to us is there anything else you can add?  I think I know what we're dealing with here but I can always use more info." Reiko adds.

 

"She feeds each night, on a different person.  She doesn't take much, and we don't even see her do it.  If you fight her," Dinni notes, "she might drain us faster for the strength to stop you."  She looks at them pleadingly.

 

Jym sighs.  "Then we need to know we can beat her first, which means more investigation.  Reiko, think you can get into the temple without her knowing it?  Especially if she's 'feeding'?"

 

"Not likely," Reiko sighs.  "If she can keep track of each of these people, then she probably can pick up on the little blessing she gave me, maybe even while she is feeding.  Jym, you're the least likely to be detected.  I suppose John would count, too.  Now the sisters, maybe so, maybe not.  They were exposed to the curse though are not actually infected.  You two are the only sure ones however."

 

"Actually, Sasha is untouched as well." Jym points out.  "While John ... had a drink."

 

"I wouldn't call Sasha untouched," Reiko insists.  "She was acting really strange and ... obsessed with the whole thing.  That speaks of some sort of ensorcelment.  Perhaps it was even her will which changed Jamie in the first place since he supposedly drank none of my milk." the sorceress theorizes.  "I had just assumed she was lying about that but the idea that she can implant the curse through desire is even more worrisome."

 

"What about Alyssa?  She's clean now from your spell." Jym points out.

 

"I suppose Alyssa's safer than John," Reiko admits, "at least until the milk is gone from him.  Though I swear I didn't infect him.  And I don't think Alyssa's all that ready to fight anybody."

 

Amara waves her arms over her head, interrupting their line of sight to get their attention.  The 'grown-ups' easily ignored the little blonde without a second thought.

 

"Yes dear?" Reiko asks Amara sweetly.  It amuses the sorceress to note that Amara's hands can barely reach her height now.

 

"Stop talking plans in front of her!" Amara hisses a whisper.  "The priestess could listen in at any time!  She might even be able to hear through her ears!" she adds, pointing at Dinni.

 

Reiko nods.  "Or see through her eyes.  The thought did occur to me, though we have yet to make any real plans.  Still we might as well.  One moment please.  Sorry Dinni.  Please think of anything else you can add."  With another simple gesture blackness begins to surround Dinni's head.  The girl startles and blinks rapidly, then shakes her head as if to clear it, rubbing her eyes as her face fades into the shadow.

 

"Just to say in addition to being secretive we should also let slip plans we do not have.  Now, let's work this out." Reiko says.

 

"What is she?" Amara demands of Reiko, stepping closer and away from her vigil on Dinni.

 

"Hmmm?" Reiko asks the short blonde.

 

"What is the priestess?" Amara asks again, impatient to know and getting annoyed at having to look up.

 

Reiko considers if she has enough evidence to pose a guess, taking her time.  Amara crosses her arms and waits, though her bare foot starts against the wooden floor.

 

"She could have performed a ritual in which she removed her heart and is thus effectively un-killable.  Find the heart and she can be killed.  Worst case she's an avatar of a goddess, or linked to one.  Did you finally think of some evil ones this could be?" the sorceress asks Amara.

 

Amara grasps her hands behind her back and paces, adorable in her seriousness.  "It would have to be one in complete opposition to Lady Naita," she ponders.  "Opposing in a real vengeancey-likey way."

 

"Does Naita have a daughter?" Reiko wonders.  "I mean, look at the way Emily tried to take her own mother down."  After a moment Reiko pauses and asks wryly, "Wait, vengeancy-likey?"

 

"You know what I mean," Amara dismisses with a huff.  "I guess there's ... Rrr ... Rawnleigh?  Or is it Rashlough?  Both are pretty big meanies."

 

"Tell me about the big meanies then, one at a time." Reiko grins, her voice just a bit too sweet.

 

"Must be Rawnleigh," Amara continues.  "She's notoriously jealous of her mother.  Rashlough's more of a stormy kind of goddess.  It couldn't be her if there's no storm here."  Amara stops and glares at Reiko's smile, the sorceress’ tone and words registering.  "Stop making fun of me!" the little Paladin whines, actually stepping towards Reiko and hitting her on her crossed arms.

 

Unfortunately this just causes Reiko to giggle.  "I'm sorry.  But it's just so cute."

 

"No it isn't!" Amara yells, continuing to hit her.  "I hate you so much, you, you, big mean … meanie!"

 

Reiko casts a grey shadow over Amara's head to quiet her down as Jym rises and picks the distraught little girl up.  He hugs his small mistress, his hands supporting her bottom, even as Amara continues to punch his back and shoulder.

 

Eventually Amara stops hitting him and starts crying on his shoulder instead, her whimpering muted by the shadow.

 

"In all honestly I think she's gotten cranky." Reiko adds somberly.  “She is thinking and acting like a child now, and she has been through a lot, perhaps more than she can handle, especially now that she is tired.  We need to tread lightly if we are to get much more use out of her.

 

Jym looks at Reiko sadly and nods in agreement.  The witch then removes the shadow from the little blonde’s head.  Amara hugs Jym tightly and continues crying softly, her feet dangling around Jym's knees.

 

Reiko pats Amara’s back and continues softly, "Okay, she’s likely the Avatar of an evil goddess.  Not good, but a start at least.  There must be some artifact allowing there to be a connection.  Do you remember what she wore?”

 

With Amara still sobbing Jym sits back down on the bed with her.  The little blonde bends her knees and pulls her bare feet onto Jym's lap.  Reiko notices the girl's dress appears slightly loose again and realizes Amara has grown even smaller.

 

The little blonde girl finally pulls back out of the hug, her eyes red and her cheeks wet.  "I don't wanna be a little girl." she whines softly to Jym, looking all of eight years old now.  The skinny limbed child curls up easily in her teenage squire’s lap.

 

Jym finds Amara’s eyes are especially blue when watery and rimmed with red.  Her face is even softer than before, making her look more babyish and vulnerable.

 

Reiko places a hand on the girl's back and rubs it gently.  "I'm sorry for laughing." the sorceress says honestly.  "Can you tell us more about Rawnleigh?"

 

Amara nods then sniffles loudly and tries to compose herself.  It takes her almost a minute to do so.  Finally she continues in a weak voice, "The story goes that Rawnleigh was born of Naita and Sc... Schro..." she struggles, then simply says, "the Evil One.  She just wasn't right.  She got jealous of her daddy’s repeated attention to her mommy, and so looks for ways to take her mommy’s place, hoping her daddy will love her instead."  The little Paladin never lets go of Jym’s neck.

 

"Does she have any symbols?" Jym asks.  Amara rubs her eyes while she thinks.  A soft knock comes to the door and Killi opens it, letting John and Sasha inside.

 

"Yes, she’s got a symbol," the little girl says finally, "but you can't draw it without getting inta trouble.  She might come for you, or curse you."  Jym can feel his little mistress actually shaking.

 

"Can you describe it then, so we may be able to find it?" Reiko asks.

 

Amara frowns and shivers as she describes a symbol of a black female silhouette with a curvy, seductive figure, yet with stylish curving horns in unusual places.

 

"Oh my," Jym comments, even as he hears Sasha breathe in sharply.  Amara clutches him for comfort, her skin having goose bumps.

 

"I'd say if we find that symbol on something it's important." Reiko decides.  After a pause the sorceress leans over and kisses Amara on her forehead, then rubbing the child’s back.  “Shhhh, don’t be scared.  You did very well ‘Mara, we’re gonna get her.”

 

"Would Rawnleigh actually keep the artifact in the temple?" Jym asks.  "If she’s evil I can't imagine the other gods would like that."

 

"The temple isn't really kept by the gods," Amara sniffles, admitting something the church usually keeps secret, even from initiates.  "If the keepers change the temple changes."  It is something of a revelation to Jym.

 

Reiko rubs her hands together.  "Okay, time to plan.  Stay with us Amara, we'll need your help.  Jym, you need to go to the temple with Alyssa.  I'll try to work with the shadows and keep track of that bitch of a priestess, locate where she is and warn you if I must.  Find what you can and report back.  You still have Amara's sword right?"

 

“Um, yeah, hid it under my tunic,” He admits sheepishly, shifting his body to get at the weapon.

 

As the squire works on that Reiko points at Sasha, "You should stay here and hide the children.  John?  What do you wish to do?"

 

"Keep my family safe," John replies.

 

Jym manages to dig the sword out, having mostly forgotten about it.  "Got it," he declares.  He doesn't look at Amara out of embarrassment for his mistress, missing the little blonde’s forlorn look as she gazes at the blade.

 

"Good.  You'll need a weapon, and a Paladin’s sword should help.  John, stay here then to help protect the children and be ready to help me if I need you.  Okay, now run everything by me again people." Reiko says, taking some command responsibility.

 

"I go scouting with Alyssa," Jym recounts, "and report back anything I find that can tell us what is behind this."

 

"Protect the children." John adds then leaves the room to watch over them, Sasha following quickly behind. 

 

Little Amara perks up, hoping for an assignment.  "I still know more religion than anyone here," she announces, back straight.  "I should go with Jymmy."  Amara has never called him that publically before.

 

"But what if she detects you?" Jym asks, letting the nickname go.

 

Amara shrugs.  "Everybody in the village must be in the same boat, right?  At this age I'll stick out less than you will, and I can’t be as noticeable as Reiko."

 

"She has a point." Reiko admits.  "You three then, check out the temple.  Leave now, before I release Dinni.  I'll tell her you went back to the wagon to get some potions."  After a moment she smiles slightly and adds respectfully, “That is, if everything is alright with you Jym.”

 

It takes a moment for it to register to the squire that he is still in charge.  Jym nods, and takes Reiko’s hand, giving it a squeeze.  “It is.  Thank you Reiko.” He says sincerely, feeling a new mutual respect developing between himself and the Kirasani.

 

Amara’s little hand moves on top of theirs after a moment then finally Killi’s hand clasps the others from below.  The foursome gaze at each other, most of them looking very different from the first time they were in this Inn, and knowing this is likely their only chance at saving not just themselves, but an entire village.  Smiling at one another in silence they each finally let go. 

 

"Tell Dinni we'll likely attack at day-break," Amara suggests.  "That should make the priestess think she has some time, if she’s listening."

 

Reiko nods.  "We can even have John ask if we should let the children sleep till morning.  That should sound like a slip.  Go get him."

 

Amara hops up eagerly and scampers out of the room, glad to be helping again.  Reiko has to stifle a laugh however at how adorable she looks.

 

When the merchant’s son returns Reiko tells John what he should say then has him leave the room for the moment.  Jym, Alyssa and Amara follow him out, wishing Reiko a farewell and luck.

 

Waiting a few seconds Reiko waves her hand and allows the darkness around Dinni to vanish.  The girl sees a room empty except for her husband and Reiko.

 

"What happened?" Dinni asks.

 

"Nothing you need to hear about." Reiko states.

 

"Then if you wouldn't mind leaving," Dinni says, somewhat politely, "I would like to get some sleep, and not get caught for even knowing you are here."

 

The door opens and John pokes his head in.  He looks straight at Reiko, doing his best to act things out.  "Think the kids have time to get some sleep before Jym gets back from the wagon?" he asks quickly. 

 

Reiko gives the teen a shocked glare, then hisses, "Fine." 

 

John glances to the bed and gets a look of embarrassment.  "Ah geez, I didn't ..." The blackness returns to Dinni's face causing the girl to sigh and cross her arms.

 

After a few moments the shadow vanishes and Reiko's large face appears, close to Dinni’s.  "Yes, sleep is a good idea." The witch says, snuffing the lights magically.  Dinni sighs again and lies back down.

 

Reiko halts at the door however, curious about something.  "So, how old are you really?" she asks Dinni.

 

The young teen looks at her, the blanket up to her chin.  "It's hard to remember.  More than twenty?  Maybe thirty," she adds, with a wonder in her voice that suggests she can barely believe it.

 

"Well, I may be in your boat soon enough.  Did you … enjoy Jym?" Reiko asks with surprising politeness.

 

Dinni glances at the young boy lying next to her then smiles to herself.  "Yes, he was very nice.  Very attentive."

 

Reiko nods then approaches Dinni’s bed again.  The witch actually looks a little nervous.  "I’m glad.  Have you ever wondered about having a ... another female?"

 

"You mean a daughter?" the girl asks, sitting up.

 

Reiko shakes her head, and begins to untie her top.  "No.  I mean in bed.  I don't think a slip of a girl like you moving backwards through time will have many more chances, do you?" the witch asks seductively.

 

Dinni, physically and emotionally fifteen despite being nearly double that in knowledge and experience swallows hard, her eyes growing big.  "No, I never have," she says softly, looking confused.

 

Reiko's top falls away, revealing her still ample breasts.  "Not a surprise.  Most haven’t.  But it can be great fun.  Are you willing to try?"

 

The girl glances at the boy next to her again.  "Probably not a good idea," she says, "Maybe tomorrow?"

 

"You really think there will be a tomorrow?  How optimistic." the witch jests, sliding onto the bed.

 

"That's the only good thing about this curse," Dinni says, her voice nervously high.  "I know I will live past tomorrow, past next year even.  My end is pretty well defined, if depressing."

 

Reiko sits behind the girl and rubs her thin shoulders.  "I meant for me.  And perhaps you, if we fail."  The girl trembles beneath her loose nightgown, her breathing becoming louder.

 

"I've done this many times by the way.  In some ways, it takes a woman to know a woman." Reiko whispers, her warm breath on Dinni's neck.

 

The girl's skin breaks out in goose bumps.  The way she trembles, her body is probably already a virgin again.  "Just let me take control." Reiko whispers, pulling Dinni down to the bed.

 

Dinni’s green eyes look up at the witch with such vulnerable trepidation that it makes Reiko hot just looking at her.  She pulls the girl's nightie up to her waist and works her fingers into Dinni, before planting a kiss on the teen's lips.

 

The girl's pubic hair is soft and thin, and she is as tight as a virgin.  Dinni squirms slightly, spreading her legs wider.

 

Reiko brings the girl along slowly as her wetness increases.  She also sincerely hopes this is enough of a distraction for Jym to take advantage of.

 

 

---